Small Stick Welder

Here is my go to little machine. I have it in a plastic action packer ridding around in the back of the service truck. Instead of like everyone says stringing our the cables it’s just a simple extension cord. I plug it into my eco plug on the Miller 305 and it doesn’t even rev the welder up. I bought it to weld exhaust and brackets when I am doing deletes but I use it for all those little jobs that you tend to turn a blind eye to like stump pan bolt hangers or welding a new nut on the back of a panel.

Works so well that every other customer that sees it goes and buys one.

That's for very light duty and not for stick welding. If you can run at least 1/8" 7018 you can repair most anything unless it's really thick steel.

Welder Dave said:

That's for very light duty and not for stick welding. If you can run at least 1/8" 7018 you can repair most anything unless it's really thick steel.

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Correct its a little mig running .030. But I tell you its a magical little machine. I had broken roller bolts on a D6H yesterday and instead of burning my expensive arctec uni-chrome rod I just used my little mig. By no means is it a power house but has it unique places.

For small or thin stuff they are good. Very good for tacking small nuts on without destroying the threads but I would have one that does solid wire with shielding gas as well as flux-core. The flux-core they run is only good for about 14 gauge sheet metal at the most. Even 3/32" stick could weld 1/4" steel.

The problem with the thunderbolt 210 is that it only does 220v. The Thunderbolt 160 has the plug for 110 and 220v. Its portable and light weight and can take up to 160 amps which isnt bad considering how small it is. Now would be a good time to buy as they are offering $50 rebates on this model with the Build with Blue.

Check out the miller thunderbolt 160 here:

https://serviceweldingsupply.com/product/miller-thunderbolt-160-dc-stick-welder-907721/

It still needs at least a 20 amp breaker on 110/120 volts and only goes to 80 amps. Good for only 3/32" emergency repairs or small jobs on thinner material. Still a much better machine than an old transformer AC Thunderbolt or even an AC/DC Thunderbolt. Probably made to compete with Esab machines in that price range. The Maxstars were several hundred $$ more.